USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 100
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Jacob Field was born in New Jersey in 1768. In 1812 he settled in this township. He died in 1841, at the home where he had always lived since coming to Ohio. He taught school in his early years, but later de- voted himself to farming. Hester Ross, his wife, was born in 1770, and died in 1856. The only surviving member of the family to-day is John R. Field, who owns and resides on the old Field homestead. He was born in the State of New Jersey in 1810, and came with his parents to Ohio two years later. In 1834 he was married to Miss Harriet Perrine, and to them have been born nine children-Jacob, Martha, Jane, Hester A., Eliza- beth, Charles, Sarah B., Catharine R., and Lydia R. Charles, Sarah, and Elizabeth are still living. Mrs. Field is a member of the Presbyterian church, but her husband has never become identified with any religious organiza- tion.
John T. Snodgrass was born in Hamilton county Oc- tober 7, 1812. He remained at his early home till his marriage with Miss Catharine Hoffner, in the spring of 1836. Eleven children were born to them-William, Thomas, John, Jethro, Oliver, Felty A., Mary F., Ange- line, Harriet, James B., and Albert. All are dead but Angeline, who married George Laboyteaux, one of the prominent merchants of Mount Pleasant. Mr. Snodgrass served as trustee of the township a number of years. He died in the year 1868, while in Minnesota recruiting his health. He, as well as his wife, was a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Snodgrass, with her son-in-law and daughter, reside in a comfortable home in Mount Pleasant.
John Wolverton first settled in Springfield township, in
1814. In 1783 he was born in New Jersey, from which State he moved to Ohio. His death occurred in Iowa, in the year 1850. Early in his life he carried on the business of weaving, but later became a farmer. Mary Hogland, his wife, was born in 1789, and died in 1835. The children are John, Alfred, William, Milton, Harriet, Neely, Ann Laboyteaux, and Amos, who resides in the township, and is the subject of the following sketch. Amos Wolverton was born in New Jersey, in 1811, and came with his parents to Ohio in 1814. In 1833 he married Miss Rebecca Carl, daughter of a pioneer. The fruit of this union was nine children-three sons and six daughters : David, William, Thomas, Eliza Ann, Eveline, Mary, Harriet, Matilda and one that died in infancy. Mr. Wolverton is one of the few remaining pioneers of Hamilton county, a good and esteemed citizen. While he is not associated with any church organizatior, he is a moral man, and lives what he believes. This worthy couple have now reached their three-score and ten years, and are remarkably well preserved for their years.
William Riddle, grandson of the famous pioneer, Col- onel John Riddle, eldest son of John and Catharine Riddle, was born March 15, 1815, and made his home with his parents until his marriage, in 1854, to Miss Lemira S. Burdsall, daughter of one of the pioneer fam- ilies. They have had four children-Lydia A., Edgar B., Alice D., and one that died without name in infancy. He has acquired a comfortable fortune, and his surround- ings show more than ordinary thrift and taste. Both are earnest members of the Church of Christ, and staunch supporters of its institutions.
Joseph Carman settled in Springfield township, in 1815. He came from New Jersey to Ohio, and remained in the same township, where he made his earliest im- provements, till 1831, when his death occurred. The farm first owned by him is now the property of John M. Cochran. The wife, Mary Carman, has long been among the dead. The daughter, Susan Broadwell, living at Smith's Landing, on the Ohio river, is now over eighty-four years of age. Andrew, the only male repre- sentative, was born in the year 1804, in the State of New Jersey, and came with his parents to Hamilton county in 1815, and made his home with them until the time of his marriage. He was thrice married-first, in 1830, to Miss Frances Watson, who died twelve years later. They had two children-one infant not named, and Benjamin, who lived to the age of thirty-four years, and died leav- ing a wife and two children. Mr. Carmen married again in the year 1850, Miss Rebecca Campbell, who died within a year after marriage. When Mr. Carmen again married, he was united to Miss Charity Sharp. He is now in his seventy-seventh year, and childless, but two little grandchildren remain to him. Mr. Carmen lived in log cabin days, and underwent the many disadvantages and hardships with the pioneer fathers.
Isaac Lane, the eldest son of John and Rosanna Lane, was born in Springfield township, in the year 1816, at the old Lane homstead. In his youthful days he worked at blacksmithing, and assisted his father in carrying on the farm. Much devolved upon him, he being the eldest
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
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son of his father's family. He resided under the parental roof until the time of his marriage, in 1839, to Miss Margaret Hill, daughter of a pioneer. To Mr. and Mrs. Lane were born eleven children-seven sons and four daughters. Their names are as follows: Mary, Albert, Emma, John, Anna, Frank, Newton, Charlie, Jerome, Nettie and Willie. All are living but Mary and Anna. Both grew to years of womanhood, and their loss to the fond parents was great. Mr. and Mrs. Lane are both earnest members of the Christian church. Grandfather and grandmother Lane are dead, and lie buried side by side in the little churchyard at New Burlington.
John Hall was born in the State of Pennsylvania in the year 1794 and came with his parents to Springfield township in the year 1817, and resided with thein until the time of his marriage to Miss Sarah Hall, in the year 1827. To them were born two sons-Joseph and John. He lost his companion in the winter of 1827. He was married again in the year 1844 to Miss Catharine Chris- man. This second union gave him six children-three sons and three daughters-Charles, Leander, Lovina, Amanda, Henry, and Emeline. Those deceased are Charles and Leander, both dying in early childhood. He and his wife were both members of the Presbyterian church, and were ever consistent to the faith they professed. The father died in 1873. He was a citizen respected and esteemed wherever known, and his loss was keenly felt among family and other friends. He now lies buried in the Springdale cemetery.
Elijah Hills came to Cincinnati in 1818. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and emigrated from that State to Ohio. While living in the former State he fol- lowed the tailor's trade. After coming to Ohio he was a farmer. His death occurred in 1848. His wife, Re- becca Hills, died the year previous. The surviving mem- bers of his family are Townsend, Rebecca Malne, Martha Sprong, Susan, and Alfred, the eldest son, who was born in 1805, in the State of Connecticut. He came to Ohio with his parents, and at the age of thirty he married Ellen McCash, the daughter of an early settler. Three sons were born to them-Townsend, Alfred, and Charles, who died in infancy. Mr. Hills has gained sufficient property to make his old age comfortable, and he and his aged wife can now fully enjoy their pleasant home, and cheer- ful surroundings.
Joshua Yerkes was born in Virginia and came from that State to Ohio, where he settled in Springfield town- ship in the year 1819. All through his life he followed the business of farming, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He died in Indiana in his hundredth year. His wife, Margaret Yerkes, died in her eighty-seventh year. The surviving members of the family are John H., Ra- chel Reed, Mary Griffith, Margaret Jolly, and Joshua, the second son and subject of this sketch. He was born in Virginia, in the year 1812, and came with his parents to Hamilton county when but a lad of seven summers. He left the parental roof at the age of fourteen; was twice married, first to Miss Eliza McGillard, daughter of an early pioneer. To Mr. and Mrs. Yerkes was born an only son, Howard, who resides in Iowa and has a wife
and two children. Mr. Yerkes lost his companion after four years of married life. Mr. Yerkes married for his second wife Miss Elizabeth Brown, who was also of quite an early and prominent family, of whom an extended account will be found elsewhere. To this second mar- riage were born six children-four sons and two daugh- ters -- Susan, Alfred, Elizabeth, Hiram, Martin, and Ed- ward-all living.
Benjamin Sterritt was born in the State of Pennsyl- vania, Franklin county, in 1801, and came to Cincinnati in the year 1820. His business career has been entirely devoted to the mercantile trade in Cincinnati. He has been twice married; first to Jane B. Keys. His second wife was Abigail C. McCoy. Both are dead, and. our subject is now living a retired life in a pleasant home in Glendale.
Elias Compton was born in New Jersey, and emigrated to Ohio in the year 1820. His settlement was made in Springfield township. He followed shoemaking, and afterward farming. His wife, Bacheba Hill, died in 1832; the husband lived till 1866. The children are Joseph, Azariah, Wilson, Mary Ann, Phœbe, and Charles. The last-named was born in 1827, and remained at home until his marriage in 1863, to Miss Margaret Boggs. They had one child only-Ella M. In 1871 his wife died, and he again married in 1873. The second wife was Martha N. Hurst, who has become the mother of a son, Clarence M. The family are now living on the old homestead of the Comptons. They are all connected with the Presbyterian church. His father and mother are buried in the Springfield cemetery.
Archibald Brown was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, January 22, 1776. In the year 1825 he emigrated to America, and settled in Cincinnati, but subsequently moved into Mill Creek township, where he died May 22, 1858. His aged wife, Ellen Brown, survived him less than a year, dying January 6, 1859. She was born on the twentieth of May, 1779. His business was that of farming. The children were William, Archibald, Isa- belle Adams, and Matthew, the youngest son and sub- ject of the following sketch. Matthew Brown was born in Scotland in the year 1821, and four years later came with the family to Hamilton county. He remained with his parents till the time of his marriage to Miss Martha Brown in the year 1847. Nine children have been born to them, eight of whom are now living. Mr. Brown is one of the substantial and enterprising farmers of his region, and a citizen respected and esteemed. He and his wife are both earnest members of the Presbyterian church, and are staunch supporters of the faith they pro- fess. By dint of hard labor and careful management, he has acquired a comfortable property. He is now sur- rounded by almost every comfort that a gracious heaven can confer, and as he and his estimable lady pass along life's journey, they can look back without regret upon a well-spent life. Grandfather and grandmother Brown lie buried side by side in Spring Grove cemetery.
Thomas Weston settled in Springfield township in in 1827. He was born in 1769, in Townsend, Massa- chusetts, and died in 1836, at his home in this township.
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
He was a farmer and shoemaker, and in the winter was sometimes a miller. Mercy, his wife, was born in 1776, and died in 1829. The surviving children are: Maria Adams, who lives at Mount Pleasant; Phoebe, who lives in Missouri; and Silas, the only present male representa- tive of the family. He was born in Massachesetts in the year 1812, and came with his parents to Hamilton county.
John Adams, the eldest son of John and Asenath Adams, was born in the State of Massachusetts in the year 1805. He assisted his father in cultivating the farm and in the manufacture of barrels, up to the year 1827, when he married and immediately after came to Hamil- ton county. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born two daughters-Mary Ann and Harriet D. His pursuit since coming to Ohio has been that of a cooper and farmer. In the year 1855 he lost his companion. He was mar- ried again, in the year 1856, to Miss Maria Weston. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are active members of the Univer- salist church, and have ever been staunch supporters of the faith they profess. He has retired from business, and he and his family live at ease in a comfortable little home in Mount Pleasant.
Joseph B. Hall, the eldest son of John and Sarah Hall, was born in this township . February 16, 1828. He resided with his parents until the time of his mar- riage to Miss Catharine Ayers, daughter of a prominent early family. Mr. and Mrs. Hall had eight children: Caroline, Mary E., Mary Elizabeth, William B., James A., George W., Thomas J., Flora May, and Mary Ellen (deceased). Hard labor and excellent management have accumulated quite a handsome property. Himself and wife are both members of the Presbyterian church at Springdale, and have ever been strong believers, and supporters also, of the faith they professed.
John Hall, the second son of John and Christiana Hall, was born in Springfield township, Hamilton county, in 1829. His occupation has always been that of a farmer. In the year 1877 he was married to Miss Clara Riddle, daughter of a quite early and prominent pioneer family. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall was born an only son, John Hen- derson. Mr. Hall is enterprising and prosperous. His wife is an active member of the Presbyterian church, and is one of its earnest supporters ; he is not connected with any church organization, but always favors the right, and firmly advocates law and order.
William Herbert may not be classed among Hamilton county's pioneers, yet he deserves a place in its history. He was born in Northamptonshire, England, in the year 1806. At the age of fourteen he began an apprentice- ship at the tailor's trade. His time expiring when he had attained his majority, in the year 1829 he married Mary Page, whose maiden name was Matthews. They had three children, one son and two daughters: Eliza- beth, Mary Ann, and William, of whom only Elizabeth remains. He is one of the first farmers of the township. He followed the occupation of tailor for a period of seven years in Cincinnati. He has quite a comfortable home in Springfield township, where he resides, leading a quiet lite. He lost his companion in the year 1872. Both he
and his wife were earnest Christians, their sympathies being with the Presbyterian people.
Augustus Isham was born in the year 1801, in the town of Colchester, Connecticut, and comes of quite a prominent family. His life has been taken up in various pursuits, but principally that of the mercantile business. He married, in the year 1822, Miss Eliza Bryce. To Mr. and Mrs. Isham were born six children, five of whom are living, one son and four daughters. He lost his com- panion in the year 1859. He now resides in Glendale, has laid aside business, and lives a quiet and retired life.
Mr. Alexander Brown may not be identified with the earliest pioneers of Hamilton county, yet he is neverthe- less a character whose name deserves a place on the pages of history. He was born in Scotland on June 3, 1809. He married, in the year 1834, Miss Margaret Brown. They have had six children, one son and five daughters-Elizabeth R., Margaret, Elizabeth Jane, Jeannette, and William. Elizabeth R., Margaret, and Jane, are dead. Mr. Brown is one of the most enter- prising farmers of his township, his home and surround- ings denoting more than ordinary thrift. He and his family are earnest members of the Presbyterian church. Our subject is a member of the county board of con- trol, and has occupied nearly every position of honor that the citizens of his township could give, thus be- speaking for him the full confidence of his people. Mr. Brown is surrounded by almost every comfort necessary to his wants.
Mr. James Lovett may not be classed among the earliest pioneers, yet he is a character whose name richly deserves a place in history. He was born in England Janu- ary 13, 1813. He, with his parents, came to America and first made settlement in the State of New Jersey. Here the family remained for about five years, when, hearing of Ohio's fine climate and fertile soil, they started for the land of promise. His father's first purchase was the farm now owned and occupied by him. Here the parents resided until the time of their decease, both living beyond four-score years. Mr. Lovett married, in the fall of 1851, Miss Sophia McLean, daughter of an early settler. Two children were born to them-Aman- da, who died April 6, 1878, and Robert. Our subject lost his companion in 1875. He is now an old gen- tleman, living a quiet and retired life on the old Lovett homestead. His only son, Robert, resides with him, looking after his interests and superintending the farm. Robert married Miss Julia Riddle, of whose family will be found an account on another page. To him has been porn one child, James R., a bright lad of two summers. Grandfather and grandmother Lovell are both dead, and lie buried side by side in the Hamil- ton cemetery.
Andrew L. Sorter, second son of Hezekiah and Sarah Sorter, was born in Springfield township in the year 1830. He was married in 1852 to Miss Harriet Huffman. To them were born six children-Sarah Ann, William P., Laura, Mary, Ida, and Douglas. Sarah Ann is dead. Mr. Sorter is one of the substantial farmers of his town- ship, and a gentleman respected and esteemed by all.
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
Philip Dorn, the eldest son of Philip and Catharine Dorn, was born in Germany in the year 1809. He came with his parents to Maryland. The family removed to Pennsylvania in 1819 or 1820, where the parents re- sided until the time of their decease. The son came to Hamilton county in the fall of 1831. He was a black- smith by trade, with which business he afterward asso- ciated the manufactory of carriages and wagons. He was twice married, first to Miss Catharine Lowe, by whom he had nine children, six sons and three daugh- ter-Alexander, John, William, Gilbert, Frank, Martha, Ruth, Ellen, and Louisa, and one son who died in in- fancy. Louisa, William, and John are dead. Mr. Dorn lost his companion about the year 1852. He was after- ward married to Miss Susannah Aldman, and there were added to the family five children, three sons and two daughters-Albert, Mary, Julia, John, and Philip, all now living. For almost half a century Mr. Dorn has been one of the prominent business men of the county. He began at the bottom of the ladder, but by hard labor and wise economy he has climbed upward, and to-day ranks among the most prosperous of his community. While he is not associated with any church he is inter- ested in public improvement, and is an earnest advocate of the right. His wife is an active member of the United Brethren church. Although past his three-score and ten years, he is yet in the manufacturing business, and successfully superintends all his affairs.
David H. Gillespie was second son of John W. and Catharine (Reese) Gillespie. The father is still living near Cumminsville in his seventy-ninth year, and still hale and hearty. He was a son of Robert Gillespie, who set- tled very early in Butler county. John came to Spring- field in 1847, and settled upon a farm near Lockland. He had ten children among whom was David, who was born at Seven-mile village, north of Hamilton, July 30, 1831. He came with his family to Lochland, in and about which he has since resided with brief intervals. He now resides in the village, and has a saloon near the Hamilton & Dayton depot. He was married to Miss Mary E. Turner in December, 1853, and has four chil- dren-Sarah, Abbeville, married to John Grismere of Lockland; Charles, William, and Alverda, all at home with their parents.
Henry Moser, one of the prominent merchants of Mount Pleasant, was born in Switzerland in 1837. He came to America in 1849, and began in the mercantile business in Mount Pleasant in the year 1867. He erected a large and commodious brick building, in which his business is now conducted. He married, in 1861, Miss Sarah E. Rogers, who has five children, two sons and three daughters. Both are faithful members of the Christian church, and excellent supporters of the faith they profess. Mr. Moser was a soldier in the late civil war.
Mr. J. H. Story was a native of New Hampshire, from which place he came to Ohio, with his parents, and after- ward became a resident of Cincinnati. He was born in the year 1810, was the eldest son of John Story and Sally Hoyt, who settled on their coming in Athens, now
Meigs, county. In 1832 he began the lumber trade, which he industriously pursued for forty years. In 1836 he married Miss Hannah Smart, and to them were born five sons: James, Joseph, John, Charles, and William. In the year 1872 he moved to Springfield township and purchased a tract of land containing two hundred acres, known as the old "Joe Cooper farm." His surroundings denote more than ordinary thrift. He has had a life full of activity and prosperity. He has never joined any church but his wife is a member of the Baptist church. His father died at the age of seventy-seven. His mother also lived to an advanced age, and the aged couple lie buried rear the old home in Meigs county.
GLENDALE.
This beautiful suburban village is situated on parts of sections five, six, eleven and twelve, in the northeast part of the township, close to the east line and a little over a mile and a half from the county line. The Hamilton, Springfield and Carthage turnpike skirts its western border; the Princetown and Sharon turnpikes, as also the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad intersect it, and the Miami canal passes a mile to the eastward.
The site of Glendale was originally a series of fine cul- tivated farms, belonging to Edmund R. Glenn, John M. Cochran, John Riddle, Robert Watson and others. In 1851 a number of wealthy Cincinnatians, desiring to build suburban homes, made an inspection of the coun- try. between Hamilton and the city, and lighted upon this spot as the most promising and eligible for their purposes. Among them were the Hons. S. S. L'Hom- medieu and John C. Wright, Messrs. Jacob Strader, R. B. Bowler and others, constituting a joint stock company of thirty, called the Glendale association. They pur- chased five hundred and sixty-five acres from the several owners, had two hundred acres at first surveyed in lots of one acre to twenty acres each, selected their own building sites, and then offered the remainder at public sale upon condition that purchasers should become actual residents of the place, at least for the summer, and that none but good dwellings should be erected. It was understood, on the part of the company, that all re- ceipts above original cost of land and expenses should be devoted to public improvement-as parks, an artificial lake and the like. The lake was made with comparative ease, by constructing a dam three hundred feet long just below some springs, whereby a beautiful sheet of water covering four acres and having a depth in places of seventeen feet, was created. An hotel was presently erected for summer boarders, but its early patronage did not equal expectations, and it was sold to the Junction railroad company by whom it was conveyed to the Rev. John Covert, who founded therein the American Female college. Three pretty little parks were laid off and im- proved in different parts of the village. A neat public school building, a one-story brick with four rooms, was put up in due time. The avenues were staked off in beautiful and symmetrical curves, and are generally sixty feet in width. Sharon avenue, upon which the road to Sharon, in Sycamore township, passes straight through
GEORGE W. WALKER.
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
the place, is eighty feet wide. Colonel Maxwell, in his admirable book on the suburbs of Cincinnati, says :
Whichever way the stranger takes, he is constantly impressed with the thought that he has made a mistake; and whatever point he at- tains is certain to be one unlooked for. This is the more embarrassing to the visitor, who asks in vain for the names of avenues that appear neither upon guideboards, or at Avondale, nor in the minds of the in- habitants, who feel no necessity of troubling themselves cencerning the mazes of thoroughfares with which time has made them thoroughly fa- miliar. A better acquaintance, however, removes the annoyance, and a score of visits demonstrate quite clearly how study unravels the most intricate ways.
Several additions have been made to the village plat since it was first laid out, and the Glendale Building and Loan association was incorporated October 5, 1871.
Glendale had six hundred and ninety inhabitants in 1860 ; one thousand seven hundred and eighty in 1870 ; and one thousand four hundred and three in 1880. The village was incorporated in 1855, and has had among its mayors the Hon. Stanley Matthews, 1867-8; R. M. Shoemaker, 1869; Samuel T. Crawford, 1870-73; Cap- tain T. J. Haldeman, 1874.
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